Mamady Sidibe

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Mamady "Mama" Sidibé (born 18 December 1979 in Bamako) is a Malian football striker, currently playing for English Premier League side Stoke City and is well known for his towering size and surprisingly graceful touch.

[edit] Career

Sidibe began his career at CA Paris-Charenton in France before being signed by Swansea City on 25 August 2001. Whilst at Swansea he scored eight times in 35 games. In August 2002 he joined Gillingham,^[1] for whom he scored 13 goals in 115 matches. When Gillingham were relegated at the end of 2004–05 season, Sidibe declined the offer of a new contract.^[2]

In June 2005 he moved to Stoke City,^[3] and at one point was one of only two strikers in the entire Stoke squad. He performed as a lone striker for the early stages of the season, keeping Bruce Dyer on the bench. Eventually, Stoke manager Johan Boskamp signed Sambégou Bangoura to play alongside him in attack.

Known as 'Big Mama', Sidibe is regarded as a target man rather than a goal scorer. Sidibe plays at international level for Mali, earning his first cap in 2002.^[4]

In October 2007 Sidibe was stabbed by a spectator during an international match with Togo and suffered what was described as a "horrific injury".^[5]Sidibe made 33 appearances for Stoke City in the 2007–08 season, scoring four goals.

On 23 August 2008, Sidibe scored the third goal in Stoke City's 3-2 home win against Aston Villa, when Rory Delap's long throw was headed home by Sidibe even though he had his back to goal, Sidibe later claimed it as deliberate but there is still some doubt over this as video evidence seems to show the ball simply hitting him rather than a deliberate attempt at goal. This was Stoke's first ever win in the Premier League. Sidibe has since went on to score his second Premier League goal of his career and season against West Bromwich Albion in a 1–0 win against their fellow newly promoted rivals. On 6 December, Sidibe netted his third goal at Newcastle United, to start the fightback from Stoke losing 2–0 to eventually draw 2–2, putting them 13th place in the league. Despite not having the greatest of goal records Sidibe is fastly becoming a fan favourite at The Britannia Stadium.

On 12 December, Sidibe suffered a knee injury whilst playing for Stoke City against Fulham at The Britannia Stadium.

[edit] Personal life

Sidibe has a younger brother, Lassana, who in 2009 signed for Dover Athletic, managed by the elder Sidibe's former Gillingham team-mate Andy Hessenthaler.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mamady Sidibe player profile at stokecityfc.com
• Mamady Sidibe career stats at Soccerbase
• Sidibe key to Stoke survival
• Soccerway profile

v • d • e Mali squad – 2004 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Mahamadou Sidibè • 2 Diamoutèné • 3 Diawara • 4 A. Coulibaly • 5 Thiam • 6 Diarra • 7 Mamady Sidibé • 8 B. Touré • 9 Abouta • 10 S. Coulibaly • 11 D. Sidibé • 12 Keita • 13 Kone • 14 D. Coulibaly • 15 Demba • 16 Bathily • 17 S. Traoré • 18 Sissoko • 19 Kanouté • 20 D. Traoré • 21 M. Traoré • 22 Tangara • Coach: Stambouli

v • d • e Mali squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Mahamadou Sidibè • 2 Koné • 3 Tamboura • 4 A. Coulibaly • 5 Diamoutene • 6 Diarra • 7 Mamady Sidibé • 8 B. Touré • 9 A. Sidibé • 10 D. Traoré • 11 D. Sidibé • 12 Keita • 13 Diallo • 14 Diakite • 15 Kanté • 16 Diakite • 17 S. Traoré • 18 Dembélé • 19 Kanouté • 20 M. Sissoko • 21 Dissa • 22 O. Sissoko • 23 M. Coulibaly • Coach: Jodar